Archive

Gang Member Tied to 2016 Swasey Shooting Indicted on New Gun Charges

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Martin Lewis will answer to assault to murder charges at a superior court arraignment later this month. (File photograph)

Martin Lewis, a known gang member allegedly involved in a series of Haverhill shootings, including the 2016 incident at Swasey Field, has been indicted on new charges stemming from an April arrest, the DA’s office tells WHAV. Under surveillance by Haverhill Police in the days after a March 26 drive-by shooting in Bradford, Lewis was arrested April 3 during an altercation that authorities say threatened their safety and the safety of nearby residents. In a police report, Detective Sean Scharneck said authorities were attempting to take Lewis into custody on a warrant relating to the March shooting when the 18-year-old fled and tossed a loaded gun into the Haverhill Public Library parking lot in the process. Once captured, the Marshland Street resident was found to be in possession of a black Taurus handgun, marijuana and two orange pills said to be a derivative of Suboxone, according to police.

Archive

Fifth Avenue Shooting Is Retaliation for Colon Murder, Say Haverhill Police

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Nike Colon’s May murder triggered a “gang war” in Haverhill between two rival groups, according to police. (File photograph)

The May murder of 20-year-old Haverhill man Nike Colon triggered what police say is an all-out “gang war,” according to an affidavit filed after the city’s most recent shooting. In court documents obtained by WHAV, Haverhill Police say the June 15 shooting on Fifth Avenue was a retaliatory strike against the gang that allegedly killed Colon. Summed up Detective Ruben Jimenez: “I believe the assault is a result of a gang war between these two rival gangs.”

Although the gang affiliations are known to WHAV, our policy is not to provide additional notoriety to the groups by naming them. The victim in the Fifth Avenue shooting, a 21-year-old man, is a close friend of Colon’s alleged killer Eddy Almonte, according to police.

Archive

Almonte Held Without Bail for Colon Murder; Video Footage Fingers Him as Alleged Triggerman

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Eddy Almonte, arrested May 29 during an unrelated motor vehicle stop in Winchester, Va., was arraigned for the murder of Nike Colon Monday in Haverhill District Court. (Courtesy booking photograph)

A handcuffed Eddy Almonte appeared in Haverhill District Court Monday to answer to murder charges brought two weeks after the death of 20-year-old Nike Colon. Clad in a white T-shirt with his hair pulled back in a ponytail, Almonte appeared before Judge Stephen Abany, who ordered him held without bail on murder charges. Almonte, who requested the services of a Spanish-language interpreter during the 15-minute hearing, said he could not afford a lawyer and asked for a court-appointed attorney. He was represented Monday by Boston-based defense attorney Eduardo A. Masferrer.

Archive

Code of Silence—Not Courts—Frees Gun Suspects; Grand Jury Indicts One More

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Haverhill Police survey the scene of the recent shooting on Washington Street. (Jay Saulnier photograph for WHAV News)

It was an unwritten code of silence, and not the courts, that is responsible for the release of at least three men implicated in Haverhill’s recent spate of often deadly shootings. Last week’s special investigative report by WHAV revealed ties between the recent shooting death of 20-year-old Nike Colon and shotgun violence at Swasey Field two years ago. The common element—in 2016 and now—was Colon’s accused murderer Eddy Manuel Almonte. He had been charged in 2016 with gun crimes, but later released.

Haverhill

Haverhill Groups Plan Tuesday ‘Stop the Violence’ Vigil In Wake of City Murders

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Haverhill residents are gathering at GAR. park Tuesday, June 5 for a “Stop the Violence” Vigil. (File photograph)

Several city civic and community groups are coming together Tuesday night at Haverhill’s GAR Park to peacefully protest the recent uptick in violence, including the recent murder of Nike Colon. Community Action, the Mount Washington Alliance, Urban Kindness, Haverhill High School’s VIP program and POSE (Power of Self Education) are among the organizations set to gather from 6-8 p.m. Following speeches and other activities at GAR Park, the group intends to walk to Harbor Place for a candid and open community discussion on how to find solutions to crime. In the case of inclement weather, the rally will move indoors at the Welcome Street Citizens Center.

crime

Special Report: Murder, Shootings Tie Back 2 Years; Suspects Free Despite Gun Arrests

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The arrest of a 27-year-old man for the murder of Nike Colon ties together a series of events and retaliations seemingly kicked off by the May 2016 shooting at Haverhill’s Swasey Field. Eddy Manuel Almonte was arrested late Tuesday night for Colon’s murder during an unrelated motor vehicle stop in Winchester, Va. As WHAV first reported Wednesday, Almonte was among three arrested and charged during June 2016 with what was suspected to be “gang-related retaliation” for the earlier Swasey shooting. WHAV’s investigation into gun-related arrests paints a picture of two rival gangs bearing responsibility for all or most of the shootings over the past two years. Two people survived gunshot wounds at Swasey two years ago, while no injuries were reported after shots were fired by rival gang members on Temple Street.

Haverhill

Police Arrest City Man Tied to 2016 Swasey Shooting for Murder of Nike Colon

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Eddy Almonte booking photograph. (Courtesy photo)

A 27-year-old Haverhill man has been arrested in connection with the May 17 murder of Nike Colon, Haverhill Police announced Wednesday. Eddy Manuel Almonte was placed under arrest during an unrelated motor vehicle stop in Winchester, Va., on Tuesday, May 28 on an arrest warrant for murder. At approximately 10:30 p.m., Winchester police stopped a vehicle carrying Almonte and his brother, a resident of Virginia’s Frederick County, as passengers. The driver received a summons for not being licensed, local authorities confirmed.

Haverhill

Haverhill Receives $682K Grant to Bring UTEC Gang Outreach to City

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Gregg Croteau (second from left), Mayor James J. Fiorentini and Rep. Andy Vargas are among those bringing an anti-gang violence program to Haverhill. (Courtesy photograph)

Haverhill is saying “no more” to gang violence. City and state leaders Tuesday gathered to announce a two-year $682,486 grant to bring violence prevention group UTEC to the city starting next month. The funding was made possible through the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, which focuses on “proven-risk” youth more likely to experience violence. At Tuesday’s announcement, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito praised Rep. Andy Vargas, Mayor James J. Fiorentini and Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro, who led the collective charge to make the program a reality.